# NTSB CHI07LA185: Cessna 172, N6267E, Oak Grove, MN, June 28, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2007, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Oak Grove, MN - Coordinates: 45.339775, -93.24044 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3398&lon=-93.2404&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - MSP FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66124 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66124/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA185 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - engine assembly,cylinder - other - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during a student solo instructional flight. The student pilot stated that he had flown for approximately 30 minutes when he lost his position. He began a descent in order to read the name of a town on a water tower when the engine began "vibrating." He then applied carburetor heat and richened the mixture, and the engine "got normal" for a few seconds. He saw that his altitude was now 2,200 feet so he turned the carburetor heat off and the engine began vibrating again accompanied by a loss in engine speed. He reapplied carburetor heat, but there was no significant change. The airplane was now at 1,800-1,900 feet and the airplane was vibrating and "slowly" losing engine speed. He then performed a landing on a field instead of a road and impacted trees. He stated that he had "very little" power to clear the trees. Examination of the engine revealed evidence of exhaust gas emanating from a hole that was located above the last fin on the upper portion of the cylinder barrel and penetrated into the 11 o'clock valve cover screw. The serviceable tag associated with the cylinder assembly was dated March 19, 2004, identified the manufacturer as Superior. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 2007, at 1845 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6267E, operated by Air D Inc. as a rental/instructional airplane, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing near Oak Grove, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The student pilot reported he attempted the precautionary landing after the airplane engine began to run rough. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The student pilot was uninjured. The flight last departed from St. Cloud Regional Airport, St. Cloud, Minnesota, and was en route to Backus Municipal Airport, Backus, Minnesota. The student pilot stated that he had flown for approximately 30 minutes when he lost his position. He began a descent in order to read the name of a town on a water tower when the engine began "vibrating." He then applied carburetor heat and richened the mixture, and the engine "got normal" for a few seconds. He saw that his altitude was now 2,200 feet so he turned the carburetor heat off and the engine began vibrating again accompanied by a loss in engine speed. He reapplied carburetor heat but there was no significant change. The airplane was now at 1,800-1,900 feet and the airplane was vibrating and "slowly" losing engine speed. He then performed a landing on a field instead of a road and impacted trees. He stated that he had "very little" power to clear the trees. The airplane was powered by a Continental O-300A engine, serial number 10568-D-5-A, which was last inspected during a 100-hour inspection on June 16, 2007, and accumulated 720 hours since major overhaul. Examination of the engine revealed evidence of exhaust gas emanating from a hole that was located above the last fin on the upper portion of the cylinder barrel and penetrated into the 11 o'clock valve cover screw. The serviceable tag associated with the cylinder assembly, dated March 19, 2004, identified the manufacturer as Superior. No other anomalies were noted with the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6267E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6267E), registered now, S/N 46367, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46367 - Airframe hours: 8706 - Engines: Continental O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Air D Inc. - Registered owner: Dennis L Williams - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 2007 - Departed: STC, St. Cloud, MN - Destination: 7Y3, Backus, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 76 total, 76 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: ANE, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070628015509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070628015509A), Jun 28, 2007: Cessna 172, Oak Grove, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot VFR with no flight plan or air traffic involvement on solo cross country from backus MN (7Y3) to st. cloud MN (STC) and back, weather was… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.